Rare 1935 Aston Martin was originally finished in metallic paint
British paint manufacturer, HMG Paints has played a pivotal role in an intriguing discovery, confirming that a rare 1935 Aston Martin Mk2 Sports Saloon, chassis F5/585/L, was originally finished in a metallic green polychromatic paint.
The finding marks one of the earliest known uses of metallic paint on an Aston Martin and is a significant piece of automotive history.
The discovery was made during a detailed investigation at HMG Paints’ Manchester facility, attended by Aston Martin historian Steve Waddingham. The investigation involved a painstaking analysis of original panels from the vehicle, which had been restored.
The HMG team, led by Chairman John Falder, included the HMG colour library and Classic vehicle specialists, used a variety of techniques, including film thickness measurements, detailed chemical analysis, and both visual and microscopic inspections.
The team’s detailed inspection revealed a paint system consisting of a dark turkey red oxide primer, followed by coats of pale grey primer filler, and finally, several layers of the green topcoat.
All layers were identified as a nitrocellulose system. After a thorough analysis of the different paint layers on the car, which included original and re-sprayed areas, the HMG team, in collaboration with Aston Martin historian Steve Waddingham, concluded with certainty that the vehicle’s original finish was metallic green.
“We were not expecting the polychromatic green to be the original colour, but all the evidence points to that being the case,” said John Falder. “These panels are some of the very earliest HMG have ever seen finished in a metallic colour. This clearly would have been a special order when the car was constructed, and in our view, this is an extremely rare and very early use of polychromatic (metallic) paints.”
The 1935 Aston Martin Mk2 Sports Saloon, which has now been fully restored, was one of the stars of the show at the recent 74th Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance in California.